ABSTRACT
Hedypathes betulinus (Klug, 1825) (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) is the main pest of Paraguay tea. Its control is difficult, due to the cryptic habit of the larvae. Usually it is controlled by catching the adults. This work aimed for the first time to evaluate a new control method for this pest, testing the susceptibility of H. betulinus to the entomopathogenic nematode Steinernema carpocapsae in the laboratory. The nematode was applied in 4 doses (12.5; 25; 50 and 100 infective juveniles/cm2), against adult insects. The nematode caused mortality of 35% and 76% at the smallest and largest concentrations, respectively.
KEY WORDS
Biological control; entomopathogenic nematodes